Inflatable vest having a quick-release hose connection to supply tank

ABSTRACT

To facilitate inflation of an underwater safety vest, an air supply tank hose is provided with a valved, quick-release connector which mates with and is latched to a coupling on the vest. The coupling includes a check valve and a tubular projection received by a bore in the hose connector housing. A normally closed valve on the hose connector is actuated by depression of a handle to supply air for vest inflation. When the connector is unlatched, a bias spring urges the tubular projection out of the bore to insure quick disconnect of the assembly.

United States Patent 1 Roberts July 24, 1973 i [75] Inventor:

[ INFLATABLE VEST HAVING A QUICK-RELEASE HOSE CONNECTION T0 SUPPLY TANK Robert E. Roberts, Torrance, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Under Sea Industries, Inc.,

' Compton, Calif.

22 Filed: on. 12, 1971 21 Appl.No.: 188,082

[52] US. Cl. 9/319, 61/70 [51] Int. Cl. B631: 9/08, B630 11/22 [58] Field of Search 9/311, 313, 314, 9/316, 319, 340, 341, 342, 329; 61/69 R, 70;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,436,777 4/1969 Greenwood 9/313 X 10/1963 Mellon, Jr. et a1. 9/313 9/1964 Nelson et al 9/313 Primary ExaminerMilt0n Buchler Assistant Examinerlaul E. Sauberer Attorney-Flam and Flam 57 ABSTRACT To facilitate inflation of an underwater safety vest, an air supply tank hose is provided with a valved, quickrelease connector which mates with and is latched to a coupling on the vest. The coupling includes a check valve and a tubular projection received by a bore in the hose connector housing. A normally closed valve on the hose connector is actuated by depression of a handle to supply air for vest inflation. When the connector is unlatched, a bias spring urges the tubular projection out of the bore to insure quick'disconnect of the assembly.

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures INFLATABLE VEST HAVING A QUICK-RELEASE HOSE CONNECTION TO SUPPLY TANK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a quick-disconnect and valve assembly facilitating inflation of an underwater safety vest from a scuba supply tank.

2. Description of the Prior Art Many aquatic divers prefer to wear a safety vest which can be inflated under water to regulate the buoyancy of the diver, or to assist in bringing him safely to the surface. Normally, the vest is empty, provision being made to inflate the vest rapidly under emergency conditions or when added buoyancy is needed.

In the past, most underwater safety vests have used a self-contained inflation source. For example, some vests include a replaceable cartridge of compressed CO gas. A detonator opens the cartridge for instant inflation of the vest. Alternatively, the vest may be inflated from a self-contained compressed air cylinder. Such gear is shown in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,536,071 to Ferrando, the vest also having a breathing tube permitting the inflated vest to serve as an emergency air supply for the diver.

Such self-contained inflation sources represent an additional item for the diver to carry, and must be replaced or refilled after each use. Should the CO cartridge not detonate or the inflation air supply be exhausted, there is no way for a companion diver to use his equipment to inflate the inoperative vest of the other diver.

The supply tank of the divers self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (scuba tank) represents a potential source of air to inflate a safety vest. The problem is one of implementation. Permanent connection of the supply tank hose to the vest is unsatisfactory, as it would be impossible for the diver to remove or abandon his breathing gear independently of the vest during an emergency situation. A hose connection assembly is desirable which (a) would permit a diver to inflate his own or another vest from the scuba supply tank, (b) could be attached to or released from the vest quickly, without tools, and (c) would include appropriate valves to control inflation and prevent loss of air. An object of the present invention is to provide an underwater safety vest including aquick disconnect and valve assembly having such features.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve this objective, there is provided a quick disconnect and valve assembly including a coupling affixed to an underwater safety vest and adapted to be latched to a quick release connector attached to a scuba supply tank hose. The hose connector has a valve actuated by depressing a handle to supply air through the connector assembly to inflate the vest.

When the assembly is unlatched, a spring urges quick release of the hose connector by forcing a tubular projection extending from the coupling out of mating engagement with a bore in the hose connector housing. A check valve in the coupling prevents escape of air from the vest.

This arrangement permits the vest to be inflated either from the scuba supply tank carried by the diver wearing the vest, or from the supply tank of a similarly equipped companion diver. A mouth tube permits the air in the vest to be breathed by the diver under emergency ascent conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A detailed description of the invention will be made with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is to scale. Like numerals designate corresponding parts in the several figures.

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the inventive quick disconnect and valve assembly connected for inflation of an underwater safety vest from a scuba supply tank.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the assembly quick release hose connector, shown operatively attached to the vest mounted coupling.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view, as seen generally along the line 33 of FIG. 1, of the vest mounted coupling.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention best is defined by the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown an inflatable underwater safety vest 10 provided with a quick disconnect and valve assembly 11 permitting the vest 10 to be inflated with air from a scuba supply tank 12. The vest 10 comprises a hollow, inflatable structure of flexible, waterproof material, and has an opening 13 which forms a collar when worn by a diver. The opening 13 has a V- neck design to hold the diver in face-up position when the vest isvfully inflated, without constricting the divers throat. A belt 14 cooperates with a loop to secure the bottom of the vest 10 to the-divers waist. A tube 16 permits oral inflation or manual deflation of the vest 10. Normally, however, the vest 10 is inflated from the tank 12, and to this end is provided with a coupling 17 which is the vest-attached component of the assembly A conventional flrst stage regulator 18 delivers air from the tank 12, but at a reduced pressure, via a hose 19 to a conventional second stage regulator and mouthpiece 20. To facilitate inflation of the vest 10, the regulator 18 is equipped with another hose 21 terminating at a quick-release connector 22 forming the other component of the assembly 11. The connector 22 includes a valve 23, described below, which controls the flow of air into the vest 10.

When the quick-release connector 22 is attached to the coupling 17 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, depression of the valve handle 23a permits air to flow from the tank 12 through the hose 2] and the assembly 11 into the interior 10a of the vest 10. After the vest 10 has been inflated, the connector 22 can be quickly released from the coupling 17. A check valve 24 (FIG. 3) prevents subsequent escape of air from the vest 10.

The coupling 17 includes a tubular stem 25 (FIG. 3) which projects outwardly through an opening 10b in the vest 10. A flange 25a forming an integral end of the stem 25 is situated in the vest interior 10a, and preferably is adhesively or otherwise bonded to the portion of the vest 10 surrounding the opening 10b. The check valve 24, which may resemble a conventional automobile tire valve, is mounted within the stem 25 and prevents discharge of air when the pressure in the vest interior a exceeds the pressure at the interior 25b of the stem 25.

The coupling 17 also includes a hollow body 26 which fits over the stem 25 and is secured in place by a cap 27 screwed onto the stem threaded end 25c. A pair of gaskets 28, 29 insure a leak-tight assembly. The interior 26a of the body 26 communicates with the stem interior 2512 via lateral holes 25d through the stem 25. Extending from and communicating with the body 26 is a tubular projection 30 which is matingly received by the quick-release connector 22. A pair of latch levers 31, 32 having respective bias springs 31a, 32a are pivotally attached to the coupling body 26 and function to retain the connector 22 attached to the coupling 17.

Referring to FIG. 2, the connector 22 includes a generally cylindrical housing 33; the hose 22 is attached to the housing end 33a by means of a threaded fitting 34. Extending inwardly from the housing other end 33b is a coaxial cylindrical bore 35. The bore 35 is of appropriate diameter to permit mating reception therein of the tubular projection 30, as shown in FIG. 2. A groove mounted O-ring 36 prevents leakage past the inserted projection 30. A spring 37 situated within the bore 35 is compressed by insertion of the projection 30 and biases disengagement of the connector 22 when the latch levers 31, 32 are released.

The valve 23 includes a cylindrical bonnet 23b which is threaded into a lateral opening 330 in the housing 33. A valve spool 230 connected to the handle 23a reciprocates in the bonnet 23b but is biased to the closed position shown in FIG. 2 by means of a spring 38. In this normally closed position, a section of the spool 23c covers the lateral valve outlet 23d which communicates via a channel 39 within the housing 33 to the bore 35.

A lateral opening 23c in the narrow portion of the valve spool 23c communicates through a coaxial valve passageway into the chamber 40 containing the spring 38, and thence via a channel 41 to the hose 21. When the valve handle 23a is depressed, the opening 23c and the narrow portion of the spool 23c are aligned with the outlet 23d, providing an unrestricted path for air supplied from the tank 12 through to the vest 10. The flow path includes the hose 21, the channel 41, the chamber 40, the valve opening 23c, the valve outlet 23d and the channel 39 to the bore 35. The supplied air thence flows through the tubular projection 30 and the body 26 to the stem interior 25b. Since the source pressure will be greater than that in the vest interior 10a, the check valve 24 will open; permitting the supplied air to inflate the vest 10.

The connector housing end 33b (FIG. 2) is tapered and provided with an annular recess 33d which receives the hooked ends 31b, 32b of the latch levers 3], 32. To release the connector 22, the latch levers 31, 32 are depressed to remove the hooked ends 31b, 32b from the recess 33d, and the connector housing 22 is withdrawn from the coupling 17. Such disconnection is aided by the bias spring 37 which urges the projection 30 out of the bore 35. Quick release is achieved. To reconnect the assembly 11, the base connector 22 merely is pushed toward the coupling 17 to insert the projection 30 into the bore 35. During such insertion, the tapered housing end 33b spreads apart the levers 31, 32 and thereafter the springs 31a, 32a bias the lever hooked ends 31b, 32b into the recess 33d.

Thus there is provided a safety vest having a quick release connection facilitating inflation from a scuba supply tank. Subsequent to supply hose disconnection, the diver can breath air from the inflated vest via the tube 16.

Intending to claim all novel, useful and unobvious features shown or described, the applicant claims:

1. For use with an underwater safety vest inflatable from a supply tank, a quick disconnect and valve assembly comprising:

a coupling communicating to said vest and including:

a check valve,

a hollow body having a tubular projection extending therefrom, said body providing communication from said projection to the interior of said vest via said check valve,

a connector attached to a hose from said supply tank and adapted for quick-releasable connection to said coupling, including:

a housing having a cylindrical bore extending inwardly from a surface thereof and having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of said tubular projection to permit mating reception therein of said projection, said housing also having an interior channel providing communication from said hose to said bore,

a normally closed, manually operable valve mounted in said connector housing for blocking communication through said channel except when said valve is opened manually;

latch means attached to said coupling and engaging said connector for maintaining said coupling and connector together during inflation of said vest, and

biasing means for urging separation of said coupling and connector when said latch means is disengaged.

2. A quick disconnect and valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein said latch means comprises a spring biased, hook ended lever pivotally mounted to said body and engaging an annular recess in said housing, and wherein said biasing means comprises a spring disposed within said bore and compressed by said matingly received projection.

3. A quick disconnect and valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein said valve is spring biased closed and includes a handle extending from said housing and depressed to open said valve.

4. A quick disconnect and valve assembly according to claim 3 in combination with a scuba tank supply air via a first stage regulator to said hose for vest inflation, said vest also including a tube extending therefrom to permit venting or breathing of air from said vest.

5. A quick disconnect and valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein said check valve is situated within a tubular stem extending from said vest, the end of said stem within said vest being flanged to prevent detachment therefrom.

6. A quick disconnect and valve assembly according to claim 5 wherein said stem extends through said body, a lateral hole through said stem providing communication to the interior of said body, a cap at the free end of said stem securing said body in place.

7. An underwater buoyancy device comprising;

a vest having an opening forming a collar when worn by a diver, said vest having a generally annular air chamber surrounding said opening and inflatable from a scuba supply tank a coupling communicating to said air chamber and including a check valve and a tubular projection,

a connector affixed to a hose from said supply tank and adapted for fluid communicating, releasable attachment to said coupling, said connector including a cylindrical bore matingly receiving said tubular projection, v

latch means for detachably latching said connector and said coupling together, and

a spring situated within said cylindrical bore and compressed by insertion of said tubular porjection, said spring urging quick release of said connector and coupling when said latch means is disengaged,

said connector containing a hand actuated'valve for controlling the flow of air from said tank to said air chamber, 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said chamber is provided with a tube for breathing gas from said inflated chamber.

9. An underwater buoyancy device comprising: a vest to be worn by a diver, said vest having an air chamber inflatable from a scuba supply tank,

a coupling communicating to said air chamber and I to said air chamber, 

1. For use with an underwater safety vest inflatable from a supply tank, a quick disconnect and valve assembly comprising: a coupling communicating to said vest and including: a check valve, a hollow body having a tubular projection extending therefrom, said body providing communication from said projection to the interior of said vest via said check valve, a connector attached to a hose from said supply tank and adapted for quick-releasable connection to said coupling, including: a housing having a cylindrical bore extending inwardly from a surface thereof and having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of said tubular projection to permit mating reception therein of said projection, said housing also having an interior channel providing communication from said hose to said bore, a normally closed, manually operable valve mounted in said connector housing for blocking communication through said channel except when said valve is opened manually; latch means attached to said coupling and engaging said connector for maintaining said coupling and connector together during inflation of said vest, and biasing means for urging separation of said coupling and connector when said latch means is disengaged.
 2. A quick disconnect and valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein said latch means comprises a spring biased, hook ended lever pivotally mounted to said body and engaging an annular recess in said housing, and wherein said biasing means comprises a spring disposed within said bore and compressed by said matingly received projection.
 3. A quick disconnect and valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein said valve is spring biased closed and includes a handle extending from said housing and depressed to open said valve.
 4. A quick disconnect and valve assembly according to claim 3 in combination with a scuba tank supply air via a first stage regulator to said hose for vest inflation, said vest also including a tube extending therefrom to permit venting or breathing of air from said vest.
 5. A quick disconnect and valve assembly according to claim 1 wherein said check valve is situated within a tubular stem extending from said vest, the end of said stem within said vest being flanged to prevent detachment therefrom.
 6. A quick disconnect and valve assembly according to claim 5 wherein said stem extends through said body, a lateral hole through said stem providing communication to the interior of said body, a cap at the free end of said stem securing said body in place.
 7. An underwater buoyancy device comprising: a vest having an opening forming a collar when worn by a diver, said vest having a generally annular air chamber surrounding said opening and inflatable from a scuba supply tank a coupling communicating to said air chamber and including a check valve and a tubular projection, a connector affixed to a hose from said supply tank and adapted for fluid communicating, releasable attachment to said coupling, said connector including a cylindrical bore matingly receiving said tubular projection, latch means for detachably latching said connector and said coupling together, and a spring situated within said cylindrical bore and compressed by insertion of said tubular porjection, said spring urging quick release of said connector and coupling when said latch means is disengaged, said connector containing a hand actuated valve for controlling the flow of air from said tank to said air chamber.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said chamber is provided with a tube for breathing gas from said inflated chamber.
 9. An underwater buoyancy device comprising: a vest to be worn by a diver, said vest having an air chamber inflatable from a scuba supply tank, a coupling communicating to said air chamber and including a check valve, a connector affixed to a hose from said supply tank and adapted for fluid communicating, releasable attachment to said coupling, latch means for detachably latching said connector and said coupling together, and a hand actuated valve mounted in said connector for manually controlling the flow of air from Said tank to said air chamber. 